【双语灵修】浪子回头的喜乐Happiness In Returning To The Father
“‘因为我这个儿子是死而复活,失而又得的。’他们就快乐起来。” - 路 15:24
耶稣所讲的浪子比喻是圣经中最动人的故事之一。它讲的是一个年轻人在父亲家里不满意,认为他去远方就可以获得幸福。所以有一天,他要求获得他应得的家业,就离开了。
起初,虽然他很有钱,但这个年轻人和很多朋友吃喝玩乐,任意放荡,浪费资财。后来他终于知道了挨饿和穷苦的滋味。他找了一份放猪的工作。他原以为能获得的幸福不过是海市蜃楼。
这个浪子在他父亲的家里一直很幸福,但他自己却不知道。现在他意识到自己很不幸福,所以他决定回家请求父亲的原谅。
这个浪子宁愿被当作雇工来对待。但当他回到家时,他惊讶极了。他的父亲正在等他,还跑来迎接他。父亲拥抱他,亲吻他,并为他举办了一个聚会,说:“让我们来庆祝吧。因为我这个儿子是……失而又得的。”
耶稣说,当一个罪人悔改并归向神时,天上就有喜乐(路 15:7, 10)。同样地,我们当中若有人悔改,让我们也来庆祝吧!
祷告
亲爱的神,感谢你让我们成为你家里的一员,感谢你差遣耶稣来,好让我们回转向你。每当又有你的儿女回转,来享受你的福份时,愿我们也一同喜乐。奉耶稣的名,阿们。
路加福音 15:11-24
11耶稣又说:“一个人有两个儿子。
12小儿子对父亲说:‘父亲,请你把我应得的家业分给我。’他父亲就把产业分给他们。
13过了不多几日,小儿子就把他一切所有的都收拾起来,往远方去了。在那里任意放荡,浪费资财。
14既耗尽了一切所有的,又遇着那地方大遭饥荒,就穷苦起来。
15于是去投靠那地方的一个人,那人打发他到田里去放猪。
16他恨不得拿猪所吃的豆荚充饥,也没有人给他。
17他醒悟过来,就说:‘我父亲有多少的雇工,口粮有余,我倒在这里饿死吗?
18我要起来,到我父亲那里去,向他说:“父亲,我得罪了天,又得罪了你。
19从今以后,我不配称为你的儿子,把我当做一个雇工吧!”’
20于是起来,往他父亲那里去。相离还远,他父亲看见,就动了慈心,跑去抱着他的颈项,连连与他亲嘴。
21儿子说:‘父亲,我得罪了天,又得罪了你。从今以后,我不配称为你的儿子。’
22父亲却吩咐仆人说:‘把那上好的袍子快拿出来给他穿,把戒指戴在他指头上,把鞋穿在他脚上,
23把那肥牛犊牵来宰了,我们可以吃喝快乐!
24因为我这个儿子是死而复活,失而又得的。’他们就快乐起来。
Happiness In Returning To The Father
"'This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." - Luke 15:24
Jesus' parable of the lost son is one of the most moving stories in the Bible. It is about a young man who felt dissatisfied in his father's house. He thought he could find happiness far away from his family home. So one day he asked for his share of the family inheritance and left.
At first, while he had money, the young man had plenty of friends and lots of fun. He spent everything he had on riotous living. But then hunger came, and he knew what it meant to be in need. He found work taking care of pigs. The happiness he had thought he would find was just a mirage.
The lost son had been happy in his father's house but didn't know it. Now he was consciously unhappy, so he decided to return home and ask his father for forgiveness.
The lost son was willing to be received only as a servant. But when he returned home, he was surprised. His father was waiting for him and ran to meet him. His father hugged him, kissed him, and threw a party for him, saying, "Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine . . . was lost and is found."
Jesus said there is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents and returns to God (Luke 15:7, 10). In the same way, let's celebrate when anyone among us does the same!
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for making us part of your family, and for sending Jesus so that we can return to you. May we also share in rejoicing whenever another child returns to share in your happiness. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳